Nawab Umdat-ul-Umrah of the Wallajah dynasty, ruler of the Carnatic State under the Mughal Empire in the late 1700s and early 1800s, lay the foundation for the Thousand Lights Mosque history. Ghulam Hussain Ali Khan was his true name, but he was given the title by Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II. Thanks to their family's steadfast backing for the British East India Company, Robert Clive intervened. During the ascent of the British and subsequent fall of practically every other independent empire, this provided the Nawab with a stronghold in the Carnatic territories.

Shiite Muslims used to congregate on the site where the mosque presently stands before it was built. They gathered here to offer their daily prayers during the month of Muharram. After the Nawab became aware of this practice, he granted 3 acres of land to the people, and the assembly hall was constructed. After he died in 1810, the ruler's family followed up by building a full-fledged mosque. In 1981, the premises were expanded to include a second mosque.
 

The Thousand Lights Mosque Chennai is built in the style of traditional Islamic architecture from the Middle Ages. Multiple circular domes and tall minarets characterize the original structure. It was constructed for the men who went to pray. In 1981, however, the site was expanded to include a larger mosque. This mosque's imposing main building includes five inward curving domes on its roof, one huge in the middle and four smaller domes on each of the four corners, indicating a Middle Eastern architectural influence. Its colossal minarets tower 64 feet above the ground.

The main hall of the mosque is located on the ground floor, where men pray daily and meet on special occasions. For women, a separate room is available. The mosque's sanctum sanctorum, known as Dargah in popular parlance, can be found on the second floor. Scripted texts from Islam's Holy Book, the Quran, are found on several walls of the Thousand Lights Mosque. Inside the mosque grounds, there is also a Shia burial yard.
 

• Visit at the time of Muharram: The followers grieve Imam Hossain's death and join in a communal grievance, or matam, on the tenth day of Muharram. Despite the tragic nature of the occasion, the mosque appears to be incredibly lovely on Muharram Day, with all the lights and people dressed in white.
• Visit the Dargah and other places enclosed in the Mosque: On the second storey, there is a Dargah, which is a shrine to Imam Hossein and Abolfazl-al-Abbas. There is also a cemetery, a library, and some guesthouses at the mosque. You may learn from the locals about Thousand Lights Mosque history.
• Offer Daily Prayer: If you are visiting the place at the time of prayer and if you want to offer the daily prayer, you can join the Jamat and offer the prayer.
   

• When entering the mosque, take off your shoes. Look around for shoe counters that can store your shoes for a reasonable fee.
• It's appropriate for both men and women to cover as much skin as possible. Cover your shoulders and knees with modest clothing.
• If you're only looking at the building and not praying, be calm and courteous because many others will be there for spiritual reasons.
• Make sure you are well versed with the Thousand Lights Mosque timings.

One can visit this mosque in any season. However, Chennai is best visited in the winter climate as you can cover other nearby attractions in this season without having to face heat and humidity.

• Government Museum
• Semmozhi Poonga
• Greater Chennai Corporation Office - Ripon Building
• Parrot Sudarson
• CHILDREN"S Museum
• Senganthal Poonga
• Chennai Corporation Park

• This mosque is extremely important to Shia Muslims, especially during the month of Muharram.
• Nawab Walajah gave the three-acre plot of land. The mosque's assembly hall is estimated to require 1000 oil lights to be illuminated.
• The building of Chennai's Thousand Lights Mosque reflects the popular medieval architectural style.